Commonwealth Games 2018 closing ceremony – as it happened

The Gold Coast Games came to an emotional close with songs and poetry about history, unity, equality and inclusivity. The flag was passed to Birmingham, host of the 2022 edition, and similar values declared

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Usain Bolt plays the DJ desks during the closing ceremony.
Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

They’re showing no mercy here. Each and every song is going mitchila ad soif, from the beginning to the end. I’ve no idea when it’ll all finish but I’m on Celtic-Rangers in an hour and a quarter and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head has just started.

We see an overhead shot, which looks really nice – there’s lots of white light in a geometrically pleasing oval. Someone I’m afraid I don’t know is singing a song that I’m afraid I do – it’s Sia’s Alive. I’m pretty sure she is the worst live act I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen Ian Brown (thrice).

“This for you Deb, from all the girls, this is your song!” hollers Kate. The intro sounds quite a bit like Friday I’m In Love but I doubt very much that it is. It isn’t. I’m not sure who Deb is, I’m afraid.

Until about ten minutes ago, this ceremony was probably the best of its ilk that i’ve ever seen. It still is, but I think we’re firmly in watch other people enjoy themselves with no vicarious pleasure territory.

The countdown to Birmingham has now started. Anne Underwood is back, endorsing everything that previous speakers have said. Perhaps everyone should have done that, and then we could just get on with the fun.

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A young girl now has it – “it” being the Commonwealth flag – and smiling the smile of a thousand people, hands it over to the Mayor of Gold Coast, who passes it to various others, who passes it to Councillor Anne Underwood, Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Federation, is now speaking. She jumps right in to present the award to the athlete of the games – it goes to David Liti, who won the heavyweight weight-lifting in dramatic style, and held himself like an absolute boss in the aftermath.

We’ve had our first fireworks, which is nice. And now we’ve got Anthony Callea, the medallion man previously detailed. He’s covering the Bee Gees You Should Be Dancing, and pauses to introduce the athletes, some of whom join him on stage and get stuck into a routine.

Guy Sebastian is now singing a song to thank the games shapers. Is it better to be a shaper than a maker? True story: my friend’s dad was a gamesmaker in 2012, and just last month, dressed up as one for the Jewish festival that requires fancy dress.

An aerial shot shows us lots of pretty light, and an inoffensive choir are clustered doing their best. Then an Aboriginal Australian band burst onto stage – I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch all of their name but it’s the something something Treaty Project.